Interview with rick kurtis

Published 2019-09-22.
What are you working on next?
I just finished the third book of a three part series. It is called, Day of the Cross III, Judgement is at Hand.It concludes man's struggles and how I see the end, based on my interpretation from the book, Revelations. This book stirred up great controversy among my beta readers. Must be a good one. Now I am working on the fifth book in a series for The Wild Boys. The book comes full circle from the first and shows how much our characters have grown. Number four was suppose to be the last, but people said it was so good that they wanted another, and when I did the ending for the fourth book, it just popped into my head and went from there. I am also working on turning my screenplay, 'Twisted Bwitch' into a book. If I can't get Hollywood to notice it, people will be thrilled and scared to read this twisted tale.
Who are your favorite authors?
Steven King has influenced me the most, until J.K. Rowlings came out with Harry Potter. I love the strange, but yet reality that these things excite. I also feel that there is hope for all authors if just given a read, after hearing J.K.'s and King's struggle.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
I am a morning person,who grew up on a small farm outside of Columbus, Wisconsin. I love the sunrises of a brand new day more than a sunset. It is a whole new day to venture out and explore in any direction that I choose. My mind is fresh and the possibilities are endless. Also when I am writing and turn in for the night, I awake with ideas for more stories.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Everyone has to work, and my job is a porter in a coffee shop. While I am bringing up supplies, or washing dishes, my mind has plenty of time to think about my story. I sit on my lunch break and fill in my notebook, and on my days off, I record my thoughts into the computer. What really started this writing adventure was constructing games and exploring adventures in the backyard for my children to act out and play. When they were done, the next day they could read everything they did in the backyard, because I wrote it all down so they could learn and relive their adventure. Many times before bed they would want to read it over and over again.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yes, I remember all my stories, all my ideas for future books that I yet to write. My very first short story was one for English class in seventh grade. We had to write about an object or thing without saying what it was. My teacher gave me an A plus, had to read it to his wife, then to the class, and asked if he could keep it for future classes. I wish he would have made a copy, but I probably would have lost it, anyway.
What is your writing process?
In school I always liked to doodle and write down my thoughts. It was easier than talking, stumbling over my words to a pretty girl. I could write down what I felt, taking my time to think for the right words, and being called a weirdo, sometimes. I use a pen and tablet, letting my inspiration flow, filling pages and pages with words. Once the story is completed I transfer it into my computer to save and to share, because my wife said I should have been a doctor, because of my chicken scratch writing.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
This is a hard one. I really wasn't a reader. I read slow and couldn't retain, then would lose interest. I always had a problem, and I have figured out that it is a form of dyslexia where I put the words in the wrong order. I do remember The Old Man and the Sea. One man against a fish. Also the mind of a seagull, Johnathon Livingston Seagull. I remember these two, getting caught up and visualizing the story in my mind. Both different, yet both a struggle. I strive to bring these things out in every book I write.
How do you approach cover design?
When writing my books I can visualize my story and can see my character, or his world, so it pops into my mind on what I want for the cover. I can explain in great detail how to lay it out, which I think can grab a persons attention.They say a book is judged by its cover, and when I advertised I received over 7000 Clicks within the first week just by the covers alone.
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
Being new to this adventure I am still exploring on how to market, and to get my books to the public. I have four books that have high raves from my friends and family along with my beta readers and fans, but yet no one has yet to post any reviews. I also have over fifty books ready to be published, some that might take off to stardom, but lack the skill or income to get them out there. Like the Star Wars series, they took the third book first and it took off from there. I do love to share on social media as much as I can bug people with my thoughts and ideas, or also helping other writers with the knowledge that I have learned, because it is all free. So back to the question, I really don't know, yet.
Describe your desk
Okay, A laptop, my books, four tablets filled with writings, and three pens at all times. Its not a pretty site and yes, I have things written all over the place and lose things all the time. Some times I have to write a scene over from memory, then I find it later to see I was close, or It went off in a whole new direction.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in a small farming community outside of Columbus, Wisconsin. I was raised in a religious household with good family values. I loved to venture out to the woods and explore, using my vivid imagination all day long. I was always the hero, and getting into so much imaginary trouble, but always saving the day. This is what I bring to my writings, good family values with great adventures and thrills, along with Christian values where good always ends up on top.
When did you first start writing?
We all write our thoughts and inspirations down though out our lives, whether for school and learning, or in a diary. I had a lot of shorties for school and started a novel at the age of fourteen. (One of those hormonal urges for young boys.) This was never finished after being read by a beautiful twenty-one year old redhead, and brought to my mother's attention. Oh boy. When I turned thirty-two, I had to leave my family of five children behind in one state while I worked in another. To pass the time away, I wrote them their very own bedtime story to read to them on my visits home. Then my writings stopped until much later in life when things slowed down. The words just seemed to flow from my pen to the page, and after a few writing classes, here I am with over fifty-seven books done and many more to write.
What's the story behind your latest book?
That's a tough one. My newest on the market came to me by a hot summer night and using an old box fan by our bedside. We joked back and forth about how it sounded like a B-29 bomber, and as a child I thought that very same thing in my old room. The book that I am working on now is a continuation of the book that I wrote for my children while I was away. One story jumped to the next, making a five book series. The other book that I am working on, like 'Day of the Cross' came to me in a dream, and was first written in writing class as a screenplay, which now I am turning into a book. 'Twisted Bwitch.' I just finished the third book for the series of Day of the Cross, so there are a lot of irons in the fire.
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